Power Step #1.    Know what is your goal for building your list.

EX: List building, opt-ins, selling, creating connections, a certain percentage of conversions?

Most of us know that effective list attraction, retention and monetization skills are ESSENTIAL for long-term success or just to get started!

==> This means you set up a develop smart habits – set up a routine from your plan, and stay consistent in reaching your goal.

Power Step #2. Your prospective clients need to know what to do when they visit your online site.

What action do you want them to take – download a report or video, opt-in for a free teleseminar, book a complementary strategy session, purchase your program, upgrade a membership etc?

Study essential skills and start using one strategy that you can confidently implement with consistency – this can completely transform list building efforts and your results. 

==> Once you have that one strategy running smoothly, add another, and so one. This helps you stay out of overwhelm and get action steps in place to move forward.

• As some of you may have already experienced – once you have a list:

• You set up a system to contact your list on a regular basis –
• Building relationships with your prospects and
• Turning your prospect into clients and
• Clients into continual streams of income through
• Constant client relationship building and retention.

Whew! Sounds like a lot – but when it is done step by step with a coach, it is so much easier and faster.

• There are step-by-step methods that walk you through every stage of your business building, so you know exactly WHAT you need to do and WHEN. When I first started, I found that step by step guidance was what I needed to move forward more quickly.
• Make a firm decision to stick to a system – and – Things start happening more quickly.

• Then stick with that system and follow it straight through from beginning to end — without getting distracted by all the other possibilities out there. And, believe me, I know from my own experience and those of my clients, there are a lot of fun distractions and ways to spend our moneyand time.

Power Step #3  Keep it simple and follow the basics… otherwise, you’ll find yourself trying to run in a dozen different directions at once… and going nowhere fast!

The best chance for success is to follow ONE step-by-step solution that walks you through every stage, and only buy other products when you absolutely KNOW you need them.

Staying focused brings you clarity.

• What does clarity bring you?

Success starts with clarity.

Your priority is – Don’t get into overwhelm and then procrastinate.

Name Collecting & Your Email Marketing

In order to collect the names of your prospects and have an ongoing conversation with them via your newsletter you will need a program to do so.

1. So, if you don’t have your blog set up, let’s do that.
2. If you do have your blog, set up, let’s starting building your list.
3. And, if you are working on your list, let’s look at your set up and systems.

Resources – Click here for a list of resources to get you started…

And, I recommend Aweber, because it has great tools and functions as well as lots of help to get you set up.

‘Find out Here How to Easily Manage Emails to your Followers’

And, I am here to share and teach from my own experience and successes – Please contact me for help with your own Power Steps to Sucess

What is The Best Marketing Your Business?

When it feels like you just keep on spinning your wheels, only to remain stuck in the same spot, it really may help to:

Find Your Own Personal Marketing Steps

Want bulletproof steps to getting hard cold cash in your pockets? Then set your plan in motion…Start with:

1. 30 max minutes in AM for Social Media (then 2 – 15 min checks Afternoon and Evening)
2. 45 minutes for article writing & posting – In the AM
3. 1 hour for Email Marketing – Client relationship building and affiliate marketing – AM
4. 45 min – blogging – AM
5. 1-3 hours – Calling and meeting with – between 11 am and 1 pm

Sound Boring? Then you better get real with your business…

This really is your secret weapon to keep you moving forward and on track.

• You now know what is expected of you.
• It may overlap into the next day.
• But, you know, you know what you need to do to market regularly.

==> If you have found your supercharged time for these types projects is a different time slot – then change the times.

Always using your time on money making activities, does build up and grow businesses.

This is really the shrewd way to working your business.

• You know any other  attention grabbing needs  can be handled during the off hours when your time limits won’t be shattering your concentration.

Are you skeptical that this is just too much time-crunching?

==> Think about this

One tactic – is to break up your work hours in small, 45 minute increments.

• Focus exclusively on marketing activities for 45 minutes.
• Take a 20-minute break to walk the dogs, or do some other type of personal work.

This keeps it fun and fresh. And, that is an advantage of being your own boss.

• After all, you are the boss, of you and your schedule!

It’s pure and simple – You decide your priorities, make decisions and make sure it gets done… because you are your real-world boss.

• What that means is this… you can’t just work to be busy.

1. Seriously think about what marketing tasks needs to get done for that day… instead of what you want to do.
2. Stay clear on what you want to accomplish in the long run.

As your Business Coach, I really become your ultimate hidden asset ~ for each day when you are facing what seems unreasonable challenges, and opening your eyes to new opportunities in your business.

Need help – think about adding some serious learning and implementation time with this http://donnalward.com/coachinggroup/ or one-on-one with me and you – Click here to ==> Contact me 

Time can be on your side…and it really is your hidden asset. But, are you using it well in your business?

So let me ask you this:

• How Much Time Did You Use Yesterday to Grow – Market – Your Business?

#1.  Make a quick list of all the things you did yesterday related to your business.

• How much time was spent on each item?
• Now look at your list and ask yourself this… what did you do to genuinely grow your business? (This doesn’t include time spent learning.)

Growing a business comes down to one thing Marketing.

You can have a blog or website, a spectacular opt-in offer and outstanding content, but if you do not have tons of targeted prospects seeing your fabulous pages, it won’t matter.

• These are the things on your to-do list that will not get you more visitors.
• These things are important, just not during your peak marketing time

#2 What is your peak marketing time?

It is the time that you are at your best during the day, and know that you can visit with your customers successfully.

• You’re not tired, grumpy, or in a hurry.
• You are focused and ready to serve.
• Ready to take time to build a relationship.

Yes you do need to invest more time in education and setting up information systems.

• It’s just that you must take advantage of your “prime time” work hours, well, for working!

Marketing your business is your job, minimum!

#3 Marketing means that you are doing income producing activities.

— But, what if you are working a full-time or part-time job? And, add to that time with your children and significant other!

• Now you need to be even more creative with your time. If you have the passion, you will find a ‘win-win’ way to move forward in your home based business.

Ask yourself:

• What can you do after or before work?

o Can you blog for 30 minutes in the AM before work?

o Write an article draft, after dinner – 30 min

o Post the article in the AM – 10 min

o Contact 2 prospective clients a day – on your breaks? 15 min each

o Take a ‘power nap’ (that’s a 10-20 min) to re-energize after work.

Decide on your system – when and what you will do on what days. Then stick to that – it will help you stay focused and move ahead. Step by Step.

#4 Focus really is the key to your success. It is your Secret Weapon.

 Your intention + attention can and will equal profitability for you.

I am talking your intention is about focusing your attention on whatever your money making activity is.

• Building your list of contacts and keeping in touch with them regularly is #1 for your business.

As a Business Coach I help you find your way through what may seem confusing and then hold you accountable to get moving forward.  Check this out and see how it can help…http://donnalward.com/coachinggroup/

I coach others to put structure to marketing and their on-line presence. Helping to attune their processes and activities. Showing how to get results. If you’ve thought you might benefit from a business coach, wonder no more. I over deliver, with your success forefront. In a fun way!”

Most of us know that effective list attraction, retention and monetization skills are ESSENTIAL for long-term success or just to get started!

Insider Secret Strategy #1 - Study essential skills and use just one strategy that you can confidently implement with consistency – this can completely transform your business efforts and your results.

Insider Secret Strategy #2 

• As some of you may have already experienced – once you have a list, you set up a system to contact your list on a regular basis – usually with an auto responder like aweber.

• Your goal is to build relationships, and help those prospects understand what you offer, turning them into clients; and clients into continual streams of income through client relationship building and retention.

Whew! Sounds like a lot – but when it is done step by step with a coach, it is so much easier and faster.

• I offer step-by-step methods that walk you through every stage of your business building, so you know exactly WHAT you need to do and WHEN. When I first started, I found that step by step guidance was really like an untapped resource!
• Next stick with that system and follow it straight through from beginning to end — without getting distracted by all the other possibilities out there. This is how you build business savvy!
• Once you make a firm decision to stick to a system – Wow! Incredible, unlimited successes can be yours!

• You can check my own step-by-step program at http://donnalward.com/coachinggroup/

• And, believe me, I know from my own experience and those of my clients, there are a lot of briliant distractions and ways to spend our money.

So, keep it simple and follow the basics…

• Otherwise, you’ll find yourself trying to run in a dozen different directions at once… and going nowhere fast!

Require that everything you purchase needs to align with your goal.

Insider Secret Strategy #3

1. So, if you don’t have your blog set up, let’s do that. Check this out at WordPress Hosting Bluehost

2. If you do have your blog, set up, let’s starting building your list.

3. And, if you are working on your list, let’s look at your set up and systems.

Step-by-step, we can find the hidden potential in you and your business!

Don’t underestimate the power of taking action on what you learn here.

By the way: What are your thoughts on money?

Is money coming to you easily?

What do you think about this?

• Even a small shift in the way you think can have dramatic, immediate results for you.

Is Money Troubling You?  

I’ve read, heard and felt this: I’m working so hard and trying to focus on what I want and think positively and yet…

Do any of these statements about money sound familiar to you:

· “You have to work hard to get what you want”
· “There’s never enough money”
· “I can’t do what I want to do because I don’t have enough money”
· “Money gets in the way of spirituality”
· “It’s overwhelming to even think about making more money”
· “It’s hard to make, easy to lose”
· “Money is the root of all evil”
· “Rich people are greedy”
· “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”

Well, no wonder money isn’t just falling on you!

When we listen to the news, it is all over the place– people losing jobs, getting thrown out of their houses, losing everything, and ads and more ads about others trying to get us to spend our hard earned money. This is REAL stuff. No wonder money’s a villain.

Know that You are your best investment – What have you go to lose?

1. Have faith and hope and believe in yourself and
2. Continue to grow and learn. Really look to see where you are being held back and what keeps you awake at night.
3. I know you are used to doing a lot of work and making money.
   • Use a different strategy. Put money aside to learn and grow, investing in yourself gives you the leverage you need.
   • You will never be done investing in your craft – you have just begun.
   • Whatever support you need, get started now.
   • Take action on what you learn. If you are not consuming, then you need a coach to take you through step by step. Get serious, get started.
   • Don’t focus on making it happen – have the intention, faith, let go as you move forward.

      ==>  These steps above are a great way to control your thoughts and focus on the moment – not the past and not the future. This is being present and living more peacefully – allowing the good to come about that you have been inspired to want.

Have you made all the changes you need to in your life? Change takes time – But, your thoughts can change things immediately for you. Your thinking is your reality.

-          You must have a definite desire.

==> Now turn the desire into your reality.

How?

In reality, not in our heads, money is simple and logical. It doesn’t conflict with or corrupt.

• But, money from all that we have heard, learned, seen, done, has been driven into our emotions and symbolizes what we fear, hope for and desire in life.

It’s really not that complicated. So what have you got to lose?

Need more – Listen in to my interview with Zahra Efan as she talks about: “How to have a healthy relationship with your money!”

Go here now: coachingbusinessentrepreneur.com/zahra-efan-interview/

Virtually anyone can make money online or offline in business, but most people won’t.

Why?

Because they don’t:

1. Apply what they know,
2. They aren’t persistent,
3. Focused, and
4. Are unclear.

• Anyone who is making money online periodically evaluates where they are at.

What does that mean?

You have to know who your target market is and is not.

1. You have to know who you want to do business with and
2. Know who wants to do business with you.
3. Where is their pain, frustration, and how can you solve this for them –
4. What is the outcome of your solution?

And you must continually assess who your market is and “why the heck do these people come to you in the first place?”

• Once you know why people would come to you, you have the motivation of your target market defined.
• Always be focusing on their needs and motivations.

Without you being clear and focused on your market and what you have to offer them, you may slow down the successes of your business rather online or brick and mortar.

When you know who your targeted market is and what motivates them:

• You may come across as someone interested in your customer’s needs.
• You will be prepared when opportunity presents itself.
• You won’t appear desperate, because you will be more prepared to let go of a potential or existing customer when the fit is incompatible.

You’ll quickly know if your product or service offers the best solution for someone because you’ll know your target that well, and you’ll know what you are able to provide.

==> A business moving forward will always take effort, persistence, vision, and clarity.

==> I think we all understand that when we are prepared and opportunity shows up, we begin to feel as if luck is on our side.

If you don’t have any customers yet, you can “profile” your ideal customer.

In a perfect world how would you describe that customer?

If you do have customers the process is very simple.

• Identify your favorite customer and “profile” them.

From there, you have an idea of who you most enjoy doing business with and can begin looking for and marketing to this perfect customer.

I know, you know, that you will not be turning customers away.

Targeting focuses you on planting and nourishing the right seeds. Sometimes extra flowers come in the seed packet.

Join our Coaching Community and get some detailed help, support and tools at http://donnalward.com/coachinggroup/

What do you think about all of this targeting? Write your thoughts in the comments.

I’ve read that entrepreneurship and failure go hand in hand.

And, by now we know that failure is not a bad thing – as long as we learn from our failure and make a better go at it next time.

One other important fact is:

‘If you don’t control it, you don’t own it and may lose it’, and this is a discipline of your business.

Are you  the leader in your business and how have you defined your business success?

1. Without vision you cannot define, or have clarity, about your business – Success then is knowing and achieving your goals for your business.

We all want our business to be able to mature – but, we seem to fight within ourselves to stay where we are, or to jump ahead without vision – without thinking it through.

Don’t want to take the time to write out your vision – use the 1 Page Business Plan (with instructions) You can get that f.ree now at http://www.planningbusinessstrategies.com/

2. Then what are the routines and processes that you will follow to help reach your vision? 

What steps do you take to reach your vision?

• And if you continually ignore the realities of your business – you are not setting yourself up for success.

Or maybe, you consider repeated, frustrating, failures as learning how to become successful?

3. One of the biggest realities is that you have to have strategies that lead you to your vision.

And, this is, along with being consistent, and persistent,  are what can make the difference between failure and success.

Don’t sabotage your chance to succeed by ignoring what you know is necessary – just like taking care of your body and mind.

• You have routines – you have a plan in place.

Very few things in life work without some plan. And that’s true in getting success coming about in your business.

Having a firm understanding of your plan, of where you are going and why helps you sustain the enthusiasm and staying power you’ll need for success.

Now carve some time out of your schedule to put your plan in place, then I promise you’ll be well on your way to having a structured, actionable Business Success Plan for YOUR own business.

Your First Step – Where are you Now?

Review / audit your marketing and business efforts to date, so that you know where you’re starting from.

Chart a plan, or map out your journey so you know your starting point.

What marketing tools are hidden assets?

==> Focusing on Customer Growth – just to mention one.

• Your business growth is not the same as nurturing and growing your customers. It is growing profitable relationships.
  • Knowing what motivates them and really learning about their fears and needs.

Understanding what marketing is and what your marketing strategies will be is going to be hitting your own jackpot in getting your business ideas up and running.

• Talking yourself into the efforts of understanding and really knowing your ideal customers’ problem and you being able to explain in words they ‘get’ – that is going to be your real Marketing Mindset Jackpot.
• And, that takes a plan – your strategy and tactics to help others to grow your business.

Just like many of you, I wanted to get to the marketing and get moving! What plan?

Your Business Plan is Your Marketing Mindset!

Planning different types of marketing:

• Building you list
• Product (or will it be affiliate) development
• Re-purposing a product to create multiple streams of revenue
• Write media releases
• Social Media marketing
• Develop interviewing skills – knowing how to visit and convert
• Connect powerfully with prospects and your customers

• What if customers don’t know about, or understand, your business and what you can offer as a solution?
• What are your marketing tactics for customer communication –
  • Which includes: selling, branding, advertising, PR, and being conscious about what you share, and how you deliver your messages, and…
  • Who you are sharing your message to is all part of the marketing plan that you have to wrap your mind around so that you can accept and move forward with action steps.

As with anything, the more you put a sincere effort into learning, develop strategies, and taking those action steps, the more you will get from your own business.

And the quicker you will achieve your goals.

How do you promote your business, gain visibility, define your target market, put effective and profitable systems into place, and become profitable in your business as soon as possible? You need to this:

• Identify your target customers and markets,
• Stretch your marketing dollars – including investing in coaching for you and your business.
• Creatively position you and your business
• Be visible within your market. Getting your message to your market regularly.
• Expand ways to have a presence in your prospect and customer’s mind even in your absence

These are big goals. My goal and my responsibility, as your coach, is to help you gain confidence in speaking about your business, attract as many ideal clients as you want, get that hard, cold cash and leverage your time to enjoy more of your life.

You can get started with my “Business Savvy Starter’s Kit’ – which has a one page business plan template. All this to help you start thinking strategically and take action regularly…to reach your successes.

Be sure to go there now at http://www.planningbusinessstrategies.com/

Start Building and Increasing Twitter Followers -

If you are on board the Twitter stream to help your business grow, then…

Check this out:

1. Your Profile and Landing Page – why is this important?

• Well, first impressions. What do people see when they come to your page?

Introduce yourself with an abbreviated intro and a link to your more detailed ‘About’ page on your Website. Also, if you can, add your Facebook link, here.

You want people to know what your business is and how to connect with you.

==> Why would someone want to connect with you?

• Put that in your profile.

2. Do you have your own lists that you like to look in on?

‘Twitter lists’ are a way to organize the people you’re following on Twitter – then you can get a snapshot of the things those users are saying by viewing that list’s page, or find new people.

• Decide if a list is interesting enough to look at daily, weekly, etc. And, make connections and get conversations going.

3. Include your Twitter followers in what you are doing in your business.

Anyone following needs to know what you are working on.

• I like sprinkling with quotes and links of pertinent information. Throughout the day, each day. Because, people are online at different times throughout the day.

4. Look at your followers that you have, and start little conversations – respond back and forth.

Take a look at what your Twitter streams are doing.

5. Have your articles tweeted and re-tweeted!

• Ask, if you really want this. You have friends, build relationships – now is the time to ask for their help.

6. And see if you can re-tweet info that you like from others.

• Always thank anyone for their re-tweets of your information.

So why would you use Twitter?

• Like all social media and marketing tactics, before you can decide what makes sense for your business, you need to consider your objectives.

A couple of ideas:

-      Extend the reach of your blog posts and other content – with linkbacks from Twitter to your sites.

-      Promote your products and services directly to a target audience.

-     Tweet your older blog posts. Your current and new readers will enjoy your information.

So as always, you’ll be providing engaging information, but in a strategic way.

That’s how to think about your activity in all of your Social Media connections. Keep your tactics on getting quick and long term ROI.

Oh and…Be sure to follow me on Twitter – I am at  https://twitter.com/coachdonnaward

One of the most challenging steps to making money online is to build a list, a ‘responsive’ opt in list is your real goal. Not just “Build a List.”

• The money is in the list, right? We’ve been hearing that since day 1 of Internet Marketing 101.

Yes, it is in the list, or more accurately, the ‘relationship’ with the list.

• So once you have a list started, you begin email marketing…

I’ve read that a large (95%) percentage of people subscribing to your list will probably never purchase what you have to offer whether it is affiliate programs or your own products/services. But that’s OK – as you keep in touch, you’ll build that relationship with more of your education marketing to your list.

And, the more you keep in touch with your list in positive ways,  each person will start to trust, like and find you credible, then more will step up.

==> That’s one of the reasons we are persistent!

• In order to build any list you need to entice visitors to your blog, website or landing page with something of very high value.
• In order to build a responsive list – you need to target that list – study what their pain is – learn about them, what are they talking about and looking for.
• Ask yourself, ‘how will you communicate with the people on your list so that you continue to add value?
• And, you need to continue to add value to your list (now your community) – Such as free Expert Interviews, or your own Q&A teleseminars, a bonus report, informative blog posts and articles.
• By offering free information, people start to get to know you, like you, and trust you.

So you become a trusted authority within your community.

How do you get them to your site?

• Write blog posts and share those posts on Social Media, on other sites like Tumbler, Stumble Upon and more.
• Write articles to send people back to your site.
• Send out press releases about an event you might be holding – like Expert Interviews, or Q&A Teleseminars, or a Telesummit – and send them back to your site.

Once they are at your site you’ll ask them to opt-in for the event or free information.

• Your Lead Magnet – Now you have them there – you offer them your freebie for their email and name.

• If you are a Chiropractor, you would not necessarily be writing about helping your prospective clients with their taxes. You would want to write about the pain of your ideal client/patient and your solutions.

• Email marketing with an autoresponder -
• Check this out for ‘Must Have Online Tools’ http://coachingbusinessentrepreneur.com/online-tools/
  • The content of your email shapes the heart of your reputation and credibility in the eyes of your subscriber. This is why it’s important to know your audience’s pain and needs, because that is what you will be writing to.

If you are just starting your online blog or business, and really feel you don’t yet have an idea what you would give or sale to your list, start your list anyway.

• It takes time to build any list. And, by the time you figure it all out, you’ll be glad that you have it started already with a clue of knowing what you are doing in building your online list.

Need help with any of this – connect with me on https://www.facebook.com/AskCoachDonna  and send me a message or just say ‘hi’